Meter adapter



Oct 9 K. A. EKSTROM 3,061,763

METER ADAPTER Filed April 1; 1960 I 4 o. 25 lg H 25 I I II II I 3 'Q'IIQI I INVENi'OR.

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United States Patent Ofiiice 3,061,763 Patented Get. 30, 1962 3,061,763METER ADAPTER Kenneth A. Ekstrem, 1827 Weaver Ave., Detroit 28, -Mich.Filed Apr. 1, 1960, Ser. No. 19,274 8 Claims. (Cl. 317-411) Thisinvention relates to electrical adapters and more particularly to a newand improved ,utility watthour meter socket or adapter adapted toreceive an S-type watthour meter and hold the same securely .therein sothat the same, once installed in place, cannot be tampered with. Thisadapter facilitates the replacement of now obsolete A-type watthourmeters for indoor or outdoor applications, domestic, commercial andindustrial.

Another object of the invention is to provide .a new and improvedelectrical adapter which has a portion thereof slidable to allow accessto the screws in the terminal block for the purpose .of makingelectrical connections only when the meter is out ofthe socket. When themeter is installed in the socket, the slide covers .the screws in theterminal block making the connections tamper-proof and movement of theslide is prevented vby the rim of the meter. The slide cannot beremovedby ordinary means. v

The above and other objects of the invention will appear more fully fromthe following more detailed description and from the drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the device, partly broken away, to showhow the meter is attached .thereto.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the adapter with meter removed.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the adapter, as shown in FIG. 2 withmeterremoved and sliding segment moved inwardly to provide means forobtaining access to wiresecuring means.

FIG. 4 is a section taken substantially along line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a section taken substantially along line S5 of FIG. 2', and

FIG. 6 is a sectiontaken substantially alongline 6-6 of FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawing, the numeral 10 designates the adapter perse which consists of a socket-like structure or shell having aperipheral flange 33, the entire structure being molded of fibre-glass,or the like, having three openings 11 therein through which securingmeans may be inserted to secure the adapter to a wall, or the like. Aplurality of clip-mounting blocks 12, 15, in this or similar locationhaving securing clips 13 mounted thereon, by means of screws 31, FIG. 5,threaded in copper connectors 14, 116, or similar connector arrangementsare fastened to blocks 12 and 15. Integrally molded within the adapteris a terminalblock portion 18 having longitudinal openings 28therethrough in which barrels 17 are mounted to receive lead wires 19which carry current from an outside source through the meter, the samebeing held securely within the barrel 17 of connectors 14 by means ofset screws 22 threaded in barrel 17 accessible through openings .27.When the adapter is secured to a vertical wall or the like the openings28 extend vertically in a direction parallel to the wall, while theopenings 27 are at right angles to the openings 28 and extendhorizontally when the adapter is in place.

As shown best in FIGS. 2 and 3 there is provided a slide or slidingmember including a sliding segment 21 FIG. 2-showing the same in aclosed position and FIG. 3 showing the segment moved to a forward, orwhat might be termed an open position. In the open position of the slidethe segment portion lies wholly within the confines of the peripheralwall of the adapter (FIG. 3),

while in the closed position shown in FIG. 2 the segment closes theperipheral wall and forms apart thereof. The base portion of the slideincludes a flatlportion extending rearwardly from .the segmentalportion, which segmental portion, as stated above, is complementary to.the fixed peripheral portion of the adapter. This segment portion ofthe device is formed of .the same molded fibre-glass as the adapter andis formed so that the base thereof will slide in a recessed portion 24of terminal block 18.' The base portion of the sliding member has formedlthereon flange members 23 which in .turn ride or slide in'longitudinalrecesses 24 formed in the sides of terminal block 18. When segment 21 is'moved forward its movement is limited by the clips mounted on blocks15, which act as a stop, and when it is returned to itsclosed position,curved flange portions 25 on rounded peripheral wall section 32 limitits forward movement. As shown best in FIG. 1, an S-type watthour meter26 is shown having securing members 32 protruding therefrom to 'engagethe securing clips 13 and hold the meter in locked relationship withadapter 10. As long as the meter'is in place it will be obvious that itsperipheral portion or shell, which lies within the shell of the-adapter,effectively prevents the sliding member, including segment 21, frommoving inwardly to the position shown in FIG. 3, and thus preventsaccess to the set screws 22.

The manner in which the device operates is as follows:

When it is desired to install an adapter the same is placed against awall at the spot desired and screws 30 are inserted through openings11in the backpf the shell and screwed into the wall thereby securing theadapter to same. Sliding segment 21 is then .moved forward'int o theinterior of the shell of the adapterlo, as shown in FIG. 3, and setscrews 22 are screwed out in barrel 17 through openings 27 to allow-leadwires 19 tobe threaded through openings 28 so that the same may makecontact with copper barrel '17, FIG. 5, after whichthe set screws 22 aretightened through openings 27 and abut against wires 19 to hold the samesecurely. Once wires 19 are in place, as shown in FIG. 3, slidingsegment 21 is then moved back to its nor-m1 position, FIG. 2; and seatson the flange 25 provided on the peripheral section wall 32 of theadapter shell 10, and whenin this position set screws 22 are completely'covered'by the base of the slide making the connections tamper-proof.The device is then ready to receive an S-'type watthour meter 26, whichseats within peripheral wall flange 33, said meter having secured to theback thereof projections 32', which are in alignment with and areadaptedto make contact with clips 13, FIGS. 1 and 2, which locks themeter to shell 10. When the meter is in placeits' peripheral wall, whichfits inside of the shell of the adapter, prevents movement of the slide,including'se'gment '21, into the interior of the shell whilethe baseportion of the slide covers the openings 27 leading to the set screw 22,thus rendering them inaccessible" as longas the meterrem-ains in placewithin theadapter shell. The usual electrical sealing band is thenplacedaround the meter and the same is tagged with a conventional metertag usedby mostelectrical utility companies. 'When the meter has beenlocked in place, electric current can "then flow through outside leadwires 19 to copper connectors 14 and 16, or other combinations, and thento clips 13 and on through meter contacts 32 to meter 26 for metering.

It will be seen from the above description that there has been disclosedherein a practical indoor or outdoor meter adapter of simple, yet uniqueconstruction providing a slide portion which allows access to the screwsin the terminal block for the purpose of securing electrical connectiononly when the meter is out of the socket and is so formed that when themeter is installed in the socket, the slide covers the screws in theterminal block making the connection tamper-proof. The slide cannot beremoved by ordinary means in either the open or closed position.

While I have described and illustrated a satisfactory device that hasproven highly successful in practical operation, it will be understoodthat the invention is not limited to specific constructional detailsshown and described, but that many changes, variations and modificationsmay be resorted to without departing from the principles of myinvention.

I claim:

1. An adapter of the class described designed to receive and hold inlocked relations-hip an electric metering device, comprising a shell,meter-securing means mounted within said shell, a terminal block portionformed integrally with said shell having openings therein to receiveelectric wires and means for securing said wires in lock-ed relationshipwith said terminal block portion, a slidable member including a segmentportion and a base portion adapted to be moved forward in said block toallow access to said wire-securing means in said terminal block and tobe moved back to its normal or closed position in said block to coversaid wire-securing means, said sliding segment portion forming acontinuation of the shell wall of the adapter in its rearward or normalposition, and the base thereof covering the wire securing means in saidterminal block, and said base when the segment is in its forwardposition being removed from said securing means, allowing accessthereto.

2. An adapter of the class described designed to receive and hold inlocked relationship an electric metering device having securing meansthereon, comprising a shell having a peripheral flange formed integralthere with, clips mounted within said shell, electric contactsconnecting said clip members, a terminal block formed integrallywithsaid shell having barrels therein to receive electric wires andmeans to secure said wires in said barrels, a slidable member includinga segment portion and a base portion integral therewith adapted to slideback and forth within said terminal block to allow access to and tocover said wire securing means, said meter securing means being inalignment with said securing clips in said shell so that when saidelectric wires in said barrels in said terminal block have been lockedinto place and said sliding segment is returned to its closed position,said meter may be lock-ed to said shell, said sliding segment portionforming a continuation of the shell wall of the adapter in its rearwardor normal position, and the base thereof covering the wire securingmeans in said terminal block, and said base when the segment is in itsforward position being removed from said securing means, allowing accessthereto.

3. An adapter as set forth in claim 2 in which the terminal blockcontains a plurality of barrels running longitudinally therethrough toreceive electric wires, and a corresponding number of vertical openingsleading into said barrels having securing means therein to hold saidwires securely in said barrels.

4. A meter adapter of the class described designed to receive and holdin locked relationship an electric meten ing device having securingmeans thereon, comprising a shell or socket having a peripheral flangeformed integral therewith, clip-mounting blocks having clips securedthereto mounted in said socket, a terminal block formed integrally withsaid socket having barrels therein to receive electric wires and meansto secure said wires in said barrels, electric contact membersconnecting said clip mounting block and said barrels, a slidable memberincluding a segment portion and a base portion integral therewithadapted to slide back and forth within said terminal block to allowaccess to and to cover said wire securing means, said meter securingmeans being in alignment with said securing clips in said shell orsocket so that when said electric wires in said barrels in said terminalblock have been locked into place and said sliding segment is returnedto its closed position, said meter may be secured to said shell orsocket by interlocking said meter-securing means and said clips in saidshell or socket making said electrical connections tamper-proof, saidsliding segment portion forming a continuation of the shell wall of theadapter in its rearward or normal position, and the base thereofcovering the wire securing means in said terminal block, and said basewhen the segment is in its forward position being removed from saidsecuring means, allowing access thereto.

5. An adapter as set forth in claim 1, wherein the adapter shell iscomposed of reinforced plastic.

6. An adapter as set forth in claim 1, wherein the terminal block andsliding member are composed of reinforced plastic.

7. An adapter as set forth in claim 2, wherein the forward movement ofthe slide is limited by contact with certain of said clips within theadapter shell and forward movement is wholly prevented when the meter isin place Within the adapter.

8. An adapter of the class described designed to receive and hold inlocked relationship an electric metering device such adapter comprisinga shell, meter-securing means mounted within said shell, a terminalblock portion formed integrally with said shell having openings thereinto receive electric wires and means for securing said wires in lockedrelationship with said terminal block portion, a slidable memberincluding a segment portion and a base portion adapted to be movedforward in said block to allow access to said wire-securing means insaid terminal block and to be moved back to its normal or closedposition in said block to cover said wire-securing means, said slidingsegment portion forming a continuation of the shell wall of the adapterin its rearward or normal position, and the base thereof covering thewire securing means in said terminal block, and said base when thesegment is in its forward position being removed from said securingmeans, allowing access thereto, said slide being prevented from forwardmovement into the shell of the wall of the metering device when themetering device is assembled with the adapter.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,348,755 Reynolds May 16, 1944 2,691,693 Lewis Oct. 12, 1954 2,695,923Lajeunesse Nov. 30, 1954 2,907,927 Fisher Oct. 6, 1959

